Apparatus for replacing cartridges of combustible substance in an ignition device



Feb. 3, 1970 P. R. M. J. DEssoY ETAL 3,493,145

APPARATUS FOR REPLACING CARTRIDGES OF COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCE IN AN IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 22, 196s IN VEN TORS APE TER ROBERT MTlN JOSEPH DE SSOY DOUGLAS SOMERVILLE FULLER United States Patent C) 3,493,145 APPARATUS FOR REPLACING CARTRIDGES OF COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTAN CE IN AN IGNI- TION DEVICE Peter Robert Martin Joseph Dessoy, Thornton Heath,

and Douglas Somerville Fuller, Ockham, England, assignors to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,189 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 13, 1967, 27,319/ 67 Int. Cl. G07f .l1/16 U.S. CI. 221-235 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ignition device, for example, of a cigarette lighter, having a cartridge-receiving casing with opposed openings from one of which a used cartridge is expelled when a new cartridge is inserted in the other of such Openings, is received in a cavity of a carrier having a passage therethrough intersected by the cavity so that the casing openings register with the passage, the carrier being movable between a first position at which the passage registers with the outlet of a hopper to receive a new cartridge therefrom and a second position at which the passage registers with the inlet to a receptacle for used cartridges, and a plunger is movable into the passage when the carrier it at its second position to displace a new cartridge from the passage into the casing of the ignition device within the cavity and to discharge the used cartridge which is expelled from the casing into the receptacle for safe storage therein.

This invention relates generally to ignition devices of the kind which are arranged to deliver to the atmosphere a small quantity of a pyrophoric or hypergolic substance for igniting a fuel, and more particularly is directed to an apparatus for removing and replacing cartridges containing the pyrophoric or hypergolic substance in such an ignition device.

In ignition devices of the described type, which may be incorporated in a combustion device, such as a cigarette lighter, it is convenient to store the supply of pyrophoric, hypergolic or other combustible substance which ignites spontaneously upon contact with the atmosphere, in a cartridge which is replaceably mounted in the device so that a cartridge can be removed when the supply of combustible substance is exhausted and a new cartridge inserted in its place. These pyrophoric or hypergolic substances are dangerous to handle so that, for domestic use, it is desirable to provide means on the cartridge which make it safe for handling, as when one cartridge is being replaced by another. However, the provision of such means to make the cartridges safe for handling considerably increases the cost of the cartridges and, even when such means are provided, an apparently empty cartridge cannot be indiscriminately discarded witliiut creating a considerable fire or other safety hazard.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for effecting the replacement of cartridges in an ignition device of the described character without requiring the handling of such cartrdges, and which also stores the discarded cartridges under safe conditions.

Another object is to effect such cartridge replacement by an apparatus which is simple to operate and relatively inexpensive to produce.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, an apparatus for replacing a cartridge of pyrophoric, hypergolic or other spontaneously combustible substance in an iCC ignition device having a cartridge-receiving casing with opposed openings from one of which a used cartridge is expelled in response to the insertion of a new cartridge into the casing through the other of such openings thereof, comprises a carrier having a passage therethrough and being movable between a first position in which such passage registers with the outlet of a first receptacle or hopper to receive a new cartridge therefrom and a second position in which the passage registers with the inlet to a second receptacle for receiving discarded cartridges, mea-ns to locate an ignition device of the described type with the openings of its casing in alignment with the passage of the carrier and with the inlet to the second receptacle upon disposition of the carrier at its second position, and means operable when th-e carrier is at its second position to displace a new cartridge from the carrier passage into the casing of the ignition device and to discharge the expelled used cartridge into the second receptacle through the inlet thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, locating the ignition device with the openings of its casing in alignment with the carrer passage is effected by receiving the ignition device in a cavity of the carrier Iwhich intersects the passage thereof, and the means operable to displace a new cartridge from the carrier passage into the casing of the ignition device includes a plunger movable into the carrier passage when the carrier is at its aforesaid second position.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of an apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1, and showing the carrier of the apparatus in one of its operating positions; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 2, but showing the carrier of the apparatus in the other of its operating positions.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that an apparatus 10 in accordance rwith this invention comprises a housing 11 having a front wall 12 with an opening 13 therein approximately unid-way between the top and bottom of the housing, and spaced horizontal partitions 14 and 15 (FIG. 2) extending rearwardly from the top and bottom edges of opening 13 to the back wall 16 of the housing for defining a channel 17 within the housing opening at the front thereof.

An upper compartment 18 (FIG. 2) defined within housing 11 above partition 14 accommodates a first receptacle or hopper 19 containing a supplyl of new cartridges 20 which are all oriented with their pyrophoric ejection apertures facing in the same direction. The hopper 19 may be insertable in compartment 18 through the top of housing 11 having a lid 21 which is releasably secured on the housing. The lower portion of hopper 19 is in the form of a neck 22 down which the :new cartridges 20 move one-by-one and having an outlet 23 opening through partition 14 into channel 17.

A receptacle 24 for receiving discharged or used cartridges is accommodated within housing 11 (FIG. 2) below partition 15 and may be removed from the housing through the bottom thereof which is provided with a base 25 releasably secured in position. The top of receptacle 24 is formed with an inlet 26 for the used cartridges, which inlet opens into channel 17 through partition 15 and is offset forwardly with respect to outlet 23 of hopper 19.

A carrier r slide 27 is slidably mounted in channel 17 for rectilinear movement therealong `rbetween the positions of the carrier respectively illustrated on FIGS. 2 and 3. Carrier 27 is formed with a passage 28 extending vertically therethrough and dimensioned to permit the free movement of cartridges 20 through such passage. Slide 27 is further formed Iwith a cavity 29 opening at the front end of carrier 27 and extending horizontally in the latter to intersect passage 28. Cavity 29 is dimensioned to receive a combustion device 30, such as a cigarette lighter, of the type that includes an ignition device having a cartridge receiving casing 31 with opposed openings 32 and 33 from one of which a used cartridge is expelled in response to the insertion of a new cartridge into casing 31 through the other of said openings thereof. The depth of cavity 29 is selected so that, when casing 31 is inserted in cavity 29 to engage against the end surface 34 of the latter, opposed openings 32 and 33 of casing 31 are registered with passage 28 of carrier 27.

A helical compression spring 35 is interposed between back wall 16 of housing 11 and carrier 27 for yieldably urging such carrier or slide to the position shown on FIG. 2 in which passage 28 registers with inlet 26 of receptacle 24. Carrier 27 is longitudinally dimensioned so that, when in the position shown on FIG. 2, the upper surface of carrier 27 blocks outlet 23 of hopper 19 to prevent the discharge of cartridges 20 therefrom.

A plunger 36 is vertically movable in a guide 37 disposed in upper compartment 18 above partition 14 in front of the neck 22 of hopper 19, and such plunger 36 has a lower portion 38 of reduced width to define a downwardly facing shoulder 39 and to be movable through an opening 40 formed in partition 14 in vertical alignment with the inlet 26 of receptacle 24. The lower portion 38 of plunger 36 is dimensioned so that, when carrier 27 is at the position shown on FIG. 2, plunger portion 38 can move downwardly through passage 28 of carrier 27 and enter cavity 29 of the latter to an extent determined by engagement of shoulder 39 with partition 14. A helical compression spring 41 is interposed .between plunger 36 and the top wall 42 of a casing therefor so as to yieldably urge plunger 36 in the downward direction to the position thereof shown on FIG. 2.

In order to permit lifting of plunger 36, when desired, apparatus further includes a lever 43 which is pivotally mounted, as at 44, on a bracket 45 secured to wall 42 of the plunger casing. Lever 43 extends forwardly from pivot 44 through a vertically elongated slot 46 in front wall 12 and terminates in a handle 47 which can be manually depressed for rocking lever 143 from the position shown on FIG. 2 to the position shown on FIG. 3. The back end portion 48 of lever 43 is bifurcated so as to embrace a threaded stem 49 which extends upwardly from plunger 36 and carries an adjustable nut 50 engaged from below lby the bifurcated end portion 48 of the lever. Thus, when lever 47 is rocked to the position shown on FIG. 3, its end portion `48 acts on nut 50 to draw plunger 36 upwardly against the force of spring 41 and thereby withdraw the lower plunger portion 38 from passage 28- of carrier 27, whereby to permit displacement of carrier 27 to the position shown on FIG. 3 in which the upper end of passage 28 is registered with outlet 23 of hopper 19.

Carrier 27 is shown to be longitudinally dimensioned forwardly of its passage 28 so that, when carrier 27 is in the position of FIG. 3, the forward end portion of the carrier blocks opening 40 and thereby retains plunger 36 in its raised position against the force of spring 41. It is further to be noted that the movement of carrier 27 in the direction from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3 is limited, as |by the engagement of the back end of carrier 27 with a retainer 51 for spring 35, so as to ensure the desired registration of the upper end of passage 28 `with outlet 23 when carrier 27 is moved to the fullest extend possible against the force of spring 35.

The operation of the described apparatus 10 is as follows:

With carrier 27 at the position shown on FIG. 2, where it is held iby engagement of plunger portion 38 in the upper part of passage 28, the combustion device 30 is inserted into cavity 29. If plunger portion 38 is dimensioned so as to extend a small distance into opening 32 of casing 31, as shown on FIG. 2, edges of casing 31 may be beveled, as at 52, so that plunger portion 38 will be lifted upwardly to a slight extent by engagement with a beveled edge 52 during insertion of device 30` into cavity 29 and will then move downwardly into opening 32 upon engagement of casing 31 with surface 34 of the cavity. After combustion device 30 has been thus located in cavity 29, handle 47 of lever 43 is depressed to raise plunger portion 38 out of the top part of passage 28, and combustion device 30 is pressed rearwardly to move carrier 27 to the position of FIG. 3 against the force of spring 35.

When carrier 27 arrives at the position of FIG. 3, at which the upper part of passage 28 is registered with outlet 23, the lowermost cartridge 20A in neck 22 of the hopper falls through outlet 23 into the upper part of passage 28 and comes to rest therein immediately above the used cartridge 20B present in casing 31 of the combustion device. The rearward force applied to device 30 for moving carrier 27 to the position of FIG. 3 is now removed from combustion device 30 so that spring 35 can return carrier 27 to the position shown on FIG. 2 at which passage 28 is registered with inlet 26 and also with opening 40.

When the upper part of passage 28 cornes into registry with opening 40, spring 41 drives plunger portion 38 downwardly through the upper part of passage 28 for positioning carrier 27 as shown on FIG. 2. During such downward movement of plunger portion 38 through the upper part of passage 28, the new cartridge 20A is driven thereby through opening 32 and into the desired position within casing 31 where it is frictionally or otherwise suitably retained, while the used cartridge 20B is displaced by the new cartridge so as to be expelled from casing 31 through opening 33 into the lower part of passage 28 and falls therefrom through inlet 26 into receptacle 24 provided for the storage of the used or discharged cartridges. Since the movement of plunger portion 38 into opening 32 of casing 31 is exactly predetermined by the engagement of the plunger shoulder 39 with partition 14, the new cartridge will be suitably positioned within casing 31.

After the cartridge has been thus replaced in device 30, the latter may be released for forward removal from cavity 29 by a slight depressing of handle 47 sufficient to lift plunger portion 38 out of opening 32 of casing 31.

The receptacle 24 may be formed of, or lined with a material which is unaffected by the residues of pyrophoric or hypergolic substance contained in the used cartridges collected therein. If desired, receptacle 24 may further contain a fire suppressing liquid or a liquid which is capable of reacting with the pyrophoric or hypergolic substance so as to neutralize the latter. When receptacle ,24 is full, the latter may -be removed from housing 11 and suitably destroyed or otherwise safely disposed of with the used cartridges contained therein.

It will be apparent that, with the apparatus 10 embodying this invention, cartridges may be replaced in the combustion device 30 in a simple manner which does not require the handling of either the new or used cartridges.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment,` and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

tible substance in an ignition device having a cartridgereceiving casing with opposed openings from one of which a used cartridge is expelled in response to the insertion of a new cartridge into the casing through the other of said openings thereof, comprising a first receptacle for containing a supply of new cartridges and having an outlet through which the new cartridges are dischargeable one at a time, a second receptacle having an inlet for receiving discarded cartridges, a carrier having a passage therethrough and being movable between a firs/tl position in which said passage registers with said outlet to receive a new cartridge from said first receptacle and a second position in which" said passage registers with said inlet of the second receptacle, means to locate an ignition device with said openings of its casing in alignment with said passage of the carrier and said inlet of the second receptacle upon disposition of said carrier at said second position, and means operable when said carrier is at-said second position to displace a new cartridge from said passage into said casing of the ignition device and to discharge the expelled used cartridge into said second receptacle through said inlet thereof.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means to locate an ignition device includes a cavity in said carrier intersecting said passage and dimensioned to receive an ignition device and locate the latter with said openings of its casing registered with said passage at opposite sides of said cavity.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said carrier is rectilinearly movable in a substantially horizontal path between said rst and second positions, said passage extends vertically through said carrier, said outlet and inlet of said rst and second receptacles are respectively disposed above and below and spaced apart along said path of movement of the carrier so that gravity induces the movement of a new cartridge into said passage from said first receptacle when said carrier is at said lirst position and also induces the movement of a used cartridge into said second receptacle when expelled from an ignition device with said carrier at said second position, and said carrier is dimensioned to block said outlet of the lirst receptacle when said carrier is at said second position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said means to displace a new cartridge includes a plunger movable into said passage when said carrier is at said second position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which said means to displace a new cartridge further includes means to limit the movement of said plunger into said passage and thereby to locate the new cartridge within the casing of an ignition device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said carrier is rectilinearly movable in a substantially horizontal path between said rst and second positions, said passage extends vertically through said carrier, said first and second receptacles are respectively disposed above and below said path, said carrier is dimensioned to block said outlet from said lirst receptacle when said carrier is at said second position, and said means to locate an ignition device includes a cavity in said carrier intersecting said passage and dimensioned to receive an ignition device, said cavity having a surface therein engageable by an ignition device to locate the latter in said cavity with said openings of the ignition device casing registered with said passage at opposite sides of said cavity.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which spring means are provided to urge said carrier in the direction from said iirst position to said second position, and said carrier is manually displaceable to said lirst position against the force of said spring means.

8. An apparatus according to claim I6, in which said means to displace a new cartridge includes a vertically movable plunger dimensioned to enter said passage of the car-rier from above said path and being located to register with said passage when said carrier is in said second position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, having means to limit the downward movement of said plunger whereby to locate the new cartridge within said casing of the ignition device when such new cartridge is displaced from said passage into the casing.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8i, in which spring means are provided to urge said plunger downwardly into said passage of the carrier at said second position, and manually actuable means are connected with said plunger for withdrawing the latter upwardly from said passage and thereby freeing said carrier for movement to said first position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said rst and second receptacles and said carrier are contained in a housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,834 10/ 1907 Neureuther 221--234 1,105,115 7/1914 Vogel 221--233 X 1,412,227 4/ 1922 Anderson et al. 221-233 X 2,486,461 11/1949 Bousquet 221-233 X 2,835,787 5/1958 Mihalyl 221--198 X 2,864,938 12/1958 Shaw et al. 22.1--70 X 3,191,803 6/ 1965 Hamilton 221-224 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner 

